Vestas considering cutting hours in Pueblo, too

Dec. 12, 2012

Written by

Associated Press

PUEBLO — Wind turbine maker Vestas is considering slashing hours for workers in Pueblo, not just workers in northern Colorado.

The Pueblo Chieftain reports Wednesday that the Danish manufacturer is considering rolling back worker hours in Pueblo from 40 hours to 32 hours a week. Similar cutbacks were announced this week for Vestas workers in Brighton and Windsor.

Vestas and other wind energy companies are in the midst of a sharp slowdown in U.S. due to falling orders and the scheduled expiration of a federal wind energy tax break.

Vestas employs about 1,100 workers in Colorado, down from 1,700 earlier this year, based on recent jobs data from the company. The Pueblo plant employs an estimated 340, down from 450, according to the company’s most recent public comments.